Star Wars 8: 'Han Solo will be back as a GHOST' How is that possible?

John has shocked fans with revelations that Han Solo will still play a major part in The Force Awakens.

He was last seen tumbling off the bridge in Starkiller Base after his son thrust a blazing lightsaber through him.

He is definitely dead, so how can he feature in Episode 8? Will he be a Force ghost, or will there be some kind of Forceback vision introducing Han as a younger man, to set up the upcoming standalone Anthologies movie starring Alden Ehrenreich as teh smuggler?

Nothing in the existing movies, or even the non-canon books and series, gives any hint that Han had Force abilities, so how can he come back as a ghost? Only Jedi can become Force ghosts. Or can they?

Johnson explained it all in the latest Star Wars special edition of Entertainment Weekly.

Han’s ghost will loom largest for Rey and Kylo Ren, after his shocking act of patricide in The Force Awakens.

Johnson said: “A figurative ghost of Han had to be present throughout this entire film.”

Johnson is obviously aware of how causal commenst can leak to rumours and speculation ,especially about buzz topics liek Force ghosts, and he is quick to clarify he is not talking about that.

He added: “Han, the ghost of – well, not literally. I don’t want to misguide. I have to be very careful with my words here.”

Kylo will be haunted by what he did, Johnson explained: “His huge defining act which, spoiler alert, is the murder of his father… that’s the more interesting thing to dive into. How has he dealt with that in his head? Where is he at in terms of that act and what does that mean for him?”

Han’s death will also have a huge impact on Rey. Not only because the orphan had stated to view him as a substitute father figure, but also because his death deepens her hatred for Kylo Ren.

Johnson said: “She just doesn’t understand Kylo. When all she wanted was parents, why would a person who has parents do that? It’s so beyond comprehension, it’s ridiculous. So she has grief for the loss and then there’s anger. To be honest, she couldn’t understand doing something like that – let alone to your parents.”